super bowl
- Thread starter RAYMOND
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at first you didn't even have the Bears going to the Super Bowl, best I can remember. by the way, how would they have a better offense? I mean I know this team can run the ball but the Colts D has shown they know how to stop that, well, at times.
yes i was wrong with the bears did not think they would come this far the old saying goes if you can't beat em join em
info write up, take it or leave it
info write up, take it or leave it
We?re not quite sure what?s more amazing the Bears being in the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman under center, or the Colts reaching the Super Bowl despite ranking a distant last in run defense. The Bears have the fancy 15-3 record. The Colts have the offensive superstars with Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison. But we?re talking two flawed teams here and because of that we like the underdog. Indy played outstanding defense in dispatching Kansas City and Baltimore from the playoffs. Both of those teams, though, have mediocre offenses. The Colts then outlasted New England, 38-34, in a shootout at home on carpet. This game is on grass, the Bears? natural surface, and in Miami. The Bears have a solid running attack, big-play defense and dangerous return man, Devin Hester. Indy allowed a staggering average of 173 yards per game on the ground during the regular season. The next worst run defense allowed an average of 145 yards rushing per game. Thomas Jones has been the unsung hero of the playoffs. He?s rushed for 189 yards on 40 carries, a 4.7 average, in Chicago?s post-season victories against Seattle and New Orleans while scoring four touchdowns. Jones rushed for 1,210 yards during the regular season so it?s not a fluke. Cedric Benson has added 105 yards rushing for Chicago during the playoffs giving the Bears a strong 1-2 inside/outside running punch that can cross up and take advantage of a small defense such as the Colts. Jones and Benson, helped by a physical, veteran offensive line and underrated wideouts, can keep the pressure off Grossman. The thing is about Grossman he can make plays when he doesn?t complete a high percentage of passes. He has moxie and can throw a nice deep pass. Keep in mind, too, about Grossman that despite several horrific performances, he had seven games where his passer rating exceeded 100. Only one other quarterback, Marc Bulger, had more. Hester is the scariest kick and punt returner to hit the NFL since Deion Sanders. The Colts had special teams trouble last week containing return man Ellis Hobbs. Now they could have real problems keeping Hester in check. Manning already has compiled Hall of Fame statistics ? record for most touchdown passes in a season with 49, only player to pass for at least 3,000 yards each of his first nine seasons and only quarterback to throw 25 or more touchdown passes nine straight years. Yet, Manning never has been as good in the post-season. He?s just 6-6 in playoff competition. His playoff passer rating is down 10 points below his regular-season mark and until this past Sunday, he never had a single game-winning drive during the playoffs. Harrison and Reggie Wayne are outstanding wide receivers. Dallas Clark makes big plays at tight end. The Colts? running back tandem of Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes surpassed Edgerrin James? rushing totals from a year ago. But Chicago?s defense can keep them in check just like it did last week against New Orleans, which had the NFL?s No. 1 offense and also was multi-facet. There won?t be snow or cold weather like there was in Chicago, but the Bears have the best middle linebacker in Brian Urlacher, one of the best weak side linebackers in Lance Briggs, outstanding edge pass rushers with Mark Anderson and Adewale Ogunleye and three solid cornerbacks in Charles Tillman, Nathan Vasher and nickel back Ricky Manning Jr. Until the Bears lost Pro Bowl tackle Tommie Harris and safety Mike Brown, they had a dominant defense through the first 10 weeks. But what the Bears still do well is make big hits and force turnovers. They led the NFL with 44 turnovers. If any coach should know Colts Coach Tony Dungy?s style, it?s Lovie Smith. He served under Dungy for many years at Tampa Bay. It?s Smith who brought Dungy?s Cover-2 defensive schemes to Chicago. Smith will find ways for the Bears to pressure Manning whether through tight coverage in the secondary or quickness from the front four. The Bears know how to win close games going 5-1 in games decided by five points or less. The Colts won a pair of one-point games from Tennessee and Buffalo, two non-playoff teams. They also lost to the Titans, Jaguars and Texans. None of whom made the playoffs. So the Colts certainly are capable of losing to any club. Indy, in fact, is just 1-3 its last four games on grass. The Colts have averaged 18.2 points in those four games. Chicago?s last defeat came in its regular-season finale to Green Bay in a meaningless game since the Bears already had clinched home-field throughout the playoffs. You?d have to go back to November to find the Bears? last loss since then. CHICAGO 23-21.
info write up, take it or leave it
We?re not quite sure what?s more amazing the Bears being in the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman under center, or the Colts reaching the Super Bowl despite ranking a distant last in run defense. The Bears have the fancy 15-3 record. The Colts have the offensive superstars with Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison. But we?re talking two flawed teams here and because of that we like the underdog. Indy played outstanding defense in dispatching Kansas City and Baltimore from the playoffs. Both of those teams, though, have mediocre offenses. The Colts then outlasted New England, 38-34, in a shootout at home on carpet. This game is on grass, the Bears? natural surface, and in Miami. The Bears have a solid running attack, big-play defense and dangerous return man, Devin Hester. Indy allowed a staggering average of 173 yards per game on the ground during the regular season. The next worst run defense allowed an average of 145 yards rushing per game. Thomas Jones has been the unsung hero of the playoffs. He?s rushed for 189 yards on 40 carries, a 4.7 average, in Chicago?s post-season victories against Seattle and New Orleans while scoring four touchdowns. Jones rushed for 1,210 yards during the regular season so it?s not a fluke. Cedric Benson has added 105 yards rushing for Chicago during the playoffs giving the Bears a strong 1-2 inside/outside running punch that can cross up and take advantage of a small defense such as the Colts. Jones and Benson, helped by a physical, veteran offensive line and underrated wideouts, can keep the pressure off Grossman. The thing is about Grossman he can make plays when he doesn?t complete a high percentage of passes. He has moxie and can throw a nice deep pass. Keep in mind, too, about Grossman that despite several horrific performances, he had seven games where his passer rating exceeded 100. Only one other quarterback, Marc Bulger, had more. Hester is the scariest kick and punt returner to hit the NFL since Deion Sanders. The Colts had special teams trouble last week containing return man Ellis Hobbs. Now they could have real problems keeping Hester in check. Manning already has compiled Hall of Fame statistics ? record for most touchdown passes in a season with 49, only player to pass for at least 3,000 yards each of his first nine seasons and only quarterback to throw 25 or more touchdown passes nine straight years. Yet, Manning never has been as good in the post-season. He?s just 6-6 in playoff competition. His playoff passer rating is down 10 points below his regular-season mark and until this past Sunday, he never had a single game-winning drive during the playoffs. Harrison and Reggie Wayne are outstanding wide receivers. Dallas Clark makes big plays at tight end. The Colts? running back tandem of Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes surpassed Edgerrin James? rushing totals from a year ago. But Chicago?s defense can keep them in check just like it did last week against New Orleans, which had the NFL?s No. 1 offense and also was multi-facet. There won?t be snow or cold weather like there was in Chicago, but the Bears have the best middle linebacker in Brian Urlacher, one of the best weak side linebackers in Lance Briggs, outstanding edge pass rushers with Mark Anderson and Adewale Ogunleye and three solid cornerbacks in Charles Tillman, Nathan Vasher and nickel back Ricky Manning Jr. Until the Bears lost Pro Bowl tackle Tommie Harris and safety Mike Brown, they had a dominant defense through the first 10 weeks. But what the Bears still do well is make big hits and force turnovers. They led the NFL with 44 turnovers. If any coach should know Colts Coach Tony Dungy?s style, it?s Lovie Smith. He served under Dungy for many years at Tampa Bay. It?s Smith who brought Dungy?s Cover-2 defensive schemes to Chicago. Smith will find ways for the Bears to pressure Manning whether through tight coverage in the secondary or quickness from the front four. The Bears know how to win close games going 5-1 in games decided by five points or less. The Colts won a pair of one-point games from Tennessee and Buffalo, two non-playoff teams. They also lost to the Titans, Jaguars and Texans. None of whom made the playoffs. So the Colts certainly are capable of losing to any club. Indy, in fact, is just 1-3 its last four games on grass. The Colts have averaged 18.2 points in those four games. Chicago?s last defeat came in its regular-season finale to Green Bay in a meaningless game since the Bears already had clinched home-field throughout the playoffs. You?d have to go back to November to find the Bears? last loss since then. CHICAGO 23-21.
off course!
and :kiss:
I don't get into the rah-rah end of things (probably cuz I'm not college edumacated:help: and the only color I follow is GREEN). Think I've posted enough here to make that obvious. If anything, I'm too hard on the teams I like. It'll be a late move by me, if any, on this game. I have quite a few thoughts brewing on it, but I'll let them fester a bit.
this is about the only thing I have a question about. Not really the tackle, which is going to make a difference, but Mike Brown. I mean, it looks to me like Manning may be able to go deep at will against this team, which the Saints only tried once or twice - and succeded, and if he does it early, well, the D won't be able to bring them back like they did against Denny Green's Cardinals. I hate Denny Green by the way
nice write up by the way
having trouble pulling the trigger yet on one side or the other, but here is another viewpoint (from P. Prisco)...
Manning has owned the NFC the past three seasons in games that mattered. In 2004, he went 4-0 against the NFC, including beating the Bears 41-10. In 2005, he was 2-0 in games that mattered. He started the final two that season against the Cardinals and the Seahawks, but he played less than a quarter in each since the Colts had locked up everything.
That means he was 6-0 against the NFC heading into this season, and he went 3-1 in 2006. The only loss he suffered to an NFC team in a game that mattered in the past three seasons came against the Cowboys this season on the road. Manning and the Colts beat the Giants, Eagles and Redskins in the other three.
So why does Manning own the NFC? Colts coach Tony Dungy said a lot of it has to do with the way those teams defended him. Since they don't see the Colts on a regular basis like the Jaguars, Titans and Texans and some other AFC teams do, the NFC teams have had a tendency to blitz the heck out of Manning.
That's a mistake. He eats that alive.
In 2004, when he beat all the NFC North teams, he threw 19 touchdowns and one interception in those games. That's dominating. And all of those opponents came after him, using a lot of single-high safety.
If the Bears blitz him in the Super Bowl, Manning will have similar success. The AFC teams have played Manning with more seven-man fronts with zone behind it this season, making him work for his points.
Dungy said that has led to Manning becoming an even better player. Dungy and team president Bill Polian both said this has been Manning's best season, even if the numbers might not say so. That's high praise.
There's no reason to believe it won't continue in the Super Bowl, especially since the last time we checked the Bears were representing the NFC, a conference Manning has owned.
Manning has owned the NFC the past three seasons in games that mattered. In 2004, he went 4-0 against the NFC, including beating the Bears 41-10. In 2005, he was 2-0 in games that mattered. He started the final two that season against the Cardinals and the Seahawks, but he played less than a quarter in each since the Colts had locked up everything.
That means he was 6-0 against the NFC heading into this season, and he went 3-1 in 2006. The only loss he suffered to an NFC team in a game that mattered in the past three seasons came against the Cowboys this season on the road. Manning and the Colts beat the Giants, Eagles and Redskins in the other three.
So why does Manning own the NFC? Colts coach Tony Dungy said a lot of it has to do with the way those teams defended him. Since they don't see the Colts on a regular basis like the Jaguars, Titans and Texans and some other AFC teams do, the NFC teams have had a tendency to blitz the heck out of Manning.
That's a mistake. He eats that alive.
In 2004, when he beat all the NFC North teams, he threw 19 touchdowns and one interception in those games. That's dominating. And all of those opponents came after him, using a lot of single-high safety.
If the Bears blitz him in the Super Bowl, Manning will have similar success. The AFC teams have played Manning with more seven-man fronts with zone behind it this season, making him work for his points.
Dungy said that has led to Manning becoming an even better player. Dungy and team president Bill Polian both said this has been Manning's best season, even if the numbers might not say so. That's high praise.
There's no reason to believe it won't continue in the Super Bowl, especially since the last time we checked the Bears were representing the NFC, a conference Manning has owned.
info from the points
info from the points
OVER/UNDER: The Bears have been one of the top ?over? teams compiling a 13-4-1 mark above the total. Most of the Bears? ?over? success came at home. They were 9-1 to the ?over? at Solider Field. The Colts played 10 ?unders? and nine ?overs? this season. Until going over the total against the Patriots, the Colts? first two playoff games fell way below the posted total. Weather shouldn?t be a factor with the game in Miami. The Colts, of course, prefer a dome stadium. They don?t get that or a fast track. The game is going to be played on grass not carpet. Both head coaches ? Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith ? are defensive-minded. They each strongly believe in a Cover-2 defense, which in simple terms is zone-based. Smith is a disciple of Dungy having coached under him at Tampa Bay. The Bears figure to run the ball a lot against the Colts? bottom-ranked rush defense, thus eating up a lot of clock. The total is high, which often is the case in Super Bowls. The Bears? previous highest over/under was 42. They had 13 games where the total was less than 40. So the value certainly seems with the ?under.?
info from the points
OVER/UNDER: The Bears have been one of the top ?over? teams compiling a 13-4-1 mark above the total. Most of the Bears? ?over? success came at home. They were 9-1 to the ?over? at Solider Field. The Colts played 10 ?unders? and nine ?overs? this season. Until going over the total against the Patriots, the Colts? first two playoff games fell way below the posted total. Weather shouldn?t be a factor with the game in Miami. The Colts, of course, prefer a dome stadium. They don?t get that or a fast track. The game is going to be played on grass not carpet. Both head coaches ? Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith ? are defensive-minded. They each strongly believe in a Cover-2 defense, which in simple terms is zone-based. Smith is a disciple of Dungy having coached under him at Tampa Bay. The Bears figure to run the ball a lot against the Colts? bottom-ranked rush defense, thus eating up a lot of clock. The total is high, which often is the case in Super Bowls. The Bears? previous highest over/under was 42. They had 13 games where the total was less than 40. So the value certainly seems with the ?under.?
Tough game to decide.
Both will be rested.
Afc better conference.
Being played N field.
Both teams are better in different areas.
Bears getting 7.
Grossman is underrated.
I like the Bears.
Both will be rested.
Afc better conference.
Being played N field.
Both teams are better in different areas.
Bears getting 7.
Grossman is underrated.
I like the Bears.
I'm liking the Bears and the over...If the Bears can keep the turnovers to 0 or 1, I dont see how they won't at least cover with +7.
